Workpiece transport device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12576444-B2
Application number	US-202117928687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2021
Priority date	Aug 6, 2020
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

A workpiece transport device capable of improving a workpiece transport speed to increase productivity is provided. The workpiece transport device transports a workpiece pressed by a press machine. The workpiece transport device includes a base portion, a crossbar that holds the workpiece, a parallel mechanism, and a motor. The parallel mechanism is supported on the base portion. The parallel mechanism is configured to change a position of the crossbar relative to the base portion by operating in a plane defined by a transport direction in which the workpiece is transported and an up-down direction. The motor generates a driving force for driving the parallel mechanism. The motor is mounted on the base portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A workpiece transport device that transports a workpiece pressed by a press machine, the workpiece transport device comprising:
a base portion; a holding portion that holds the workpiece; a parallel mechanism supported on the base portion and configured to change a position of the holding portion relative to the base portion by operating in a plane defined by a transport direction in which the workpiece is transported and an up-down direction; and an actuator that is mounted on the base portion and generates a driving force for driving the parallel mechanism, wherein the parallel mechanism includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion that are in parallel with each other, the first arm portion includes a first lever attached to the base portion and a first link having a base end attached to the first lever and a tip end to which the holding portion is attached, and the second arm portion includes a second lever attached to the base portion and a second link having a base end attached to the second lever and a tip end coupled to the first link, and the first arm portion has a higher torsional rigidity than the second arm portion.

2 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
the actuator exerts a driving force on the first arm portion for moving the first arm portion relative to the base portion, and exerts a driving force on the second arm portion for moving the second arm portion relative to the base portion independently of the first arm portion.

3 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
the base portion is configured to be movable in the transport direction.

4 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 3 , further comprising a guide rail extending in the transport direction and supporting the base portion, wherein
the base portion moves in the transport direction along the guide rail.

5 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 4 , wherein
the press machine has a die that moves in the up-down direction, a slide on which the die is mounted, a columnar portion extending in the up-down direction, and an attachment portion that attaches the slide to the columnar portion such that the slide is movable in the up-down direction, and the guide rail is disposed below the attachment portion.

6 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 5 , wherein
the guide rail overlaps the slide when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the plane.

7 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 1 , further comprising one biasing member that is mounted on the base portion and biases both the first arm portion and the second arm portion upward.

8 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 7 , wherein
the biasing member is a gas spring.

9 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 8 , wherein
the gas spring has a cylinder, and a rod protruding from the cylinder and rotatably coupled to the base portion, the workpiece transport device further comprises a first coupling member having an unchanging length and coupled to the cylinder and the first arm portion, and a second coupling member having an unchanging length and coupled to the cylinder and the second arm portion, and the rod is biased in a direction in which it is pushed out of the cylinder.

10 . The workpiece transport device according to claim 5 , wherein
the guide rail is fixed to the press machine.

Assignees

• Komatsu Ind Corp

Inventors

• Akashi Hidetoshi

Classifications

• B21D43/055

  Devices comprising a pair of longitudinally and laterally movable parallel transfer bars · CPC title

• B30B15/30

  Feeding material to presses · CPC title

• B65G47/914

  provided with drive systems incorporating rotary and rectilinear movements · CPC title

• B25J11/00

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25J19/0012

  using fluidic devices · CPC title